French policing under scrutiny as student protest injuries mount

Key Points:

• Fourteen-year-old Eden sustained a broken jaw and multiple smashed teeth after being hit in the face at close range by a tear gas canister fired by a police officer during student protests in France, leading to a formal investigation and a complaint for attempted murder.
• The incident occurred when Eden, who was sitting away from the protest, was approached and struck by police, prompting a confrontation that ended with the tear gas injury; police have placed the officer under investigation for assault causing permanent disability or disfigurement.
• The case is among 24 under investigation related to police conduct during a two-week wave of student unrest, which Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu described as the most violent in decades, with numerous injuries reported among students and police.
• Human rights groups and some politicians have called for a ban on "less lethal" weapons like rubber bullets and stun grenades, which have caused serious injuries including permanent disabilities, while police unions defend their use as necessary for maintaining order amid violent protests.
• The protests and police response have intensified public anger and support for the movement, reflecting broader dissatisfaction with President Emmanuel Macron’s government ahead of the 2027 election.